Shade



June 26, 1923. 1,459,715

E. sT.c. BLISS SHADE Filed Dec. 11, 1919 HWY. 6&5 an a I Patented June 26, 1923.

UNITED STATES ELSIE ST. C. BLISS, OF BBOOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHADE.

Application filed December 11, 1919. Serial No. 344,041.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Elsie ST. CLAIRE Brass, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, residing at Brooklinc. in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Shades, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to shades of the type used wit-h electric lamps and other sources of light used for domestic purposes, to modify and soften the light transmitted, or to shade some particular part of a room from the direct rays of the light.

The invention aims to devise an article of this character which will not only form an efi'ective shade but will also present an attractive appearance, especially through the use of silhouette effects. It is also an. object of the invention to devise a shade in which silhouette efiects will be produced by the light that is shaded but which will also present attractive color effects when seen with the aid of reflected light, as, for instance, in the daytime or when the shaded light is not used.

The nature of the invention will be readily understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

Referring now to the drawings,

Figure 1 is an angular view showing a shade embodying the present invention and illustrating it in a partlycompleted condition for the purpose of better disclosing the method of manufacture; and

Fig. 2 is a front elevation showing another form of shade, certain of the parts being broken away.

The shade shown in Fig. 1 is of the round, substantially cylindrical type commonly used on small electric lights and comprises a wire frame 2 of a common construction. The top, bottom and upright members of the frame are preferably wound, as indicated at 3, with a tape or binding which will harmonize in color with the other parts of the shade. An inner sheet or lining 4 of silk, chiffon, parchment, or the like, is next stretched over the frame and 1s sewed or otherwise secured to the parts that have been wound. A series of figures 5, preferably eut out of opaque paper, are then arranged on a suitable ground work, which may also be of opaque paper, and with these figures are arranged grasses, small flowers, and similar plant materials in their natural but dried condition, as indicated at 6. The

grasses, leaves and flowers are arranged to simulate trees and shrubbery and they cooperate with the figures to form an attractive design or scene. An outer covering 7, usually of colored silk, chifi'on, or the like, is then stretched over the frame and sewed to the covered frame members 3, this material and the inner sheet 4 acting to hold the elements of the design in place. The top and bottom members of the wire frame are then covered with a binding 8 which conceals'the points at which the parts 4. and 7 are sewed, or otherwise secured, to the frame.

It will, of course, be understood that both the sheets 4 and 7 are translucent, the outer sheet 7 usually being of colored material, and the inner sheet 4 may also be colored, if desired, and may consist of the same or a different material from that used for the outer covering. Usually the inner covering consists of white silk or chiffon, while the outer covering is of silk or chiffon of a delicate color. It will now be understood that when this shade is viewed by the light transmitted through it, that is, the light on which the shade is used, the fi res and grasses will appear in silhouette and will present a very attractive appearance. If flowers are used they may be arranged so that their color values will add to the attractiveness of the design, or they may be so arranged that they also will appear in silhouette.

It is also contemplated that the figures and plant materials may be so selected that they will not only present a silhouette effect under the shaded light, but they will also present an attractive color design when seen by reflected light, as, for instance, in the daytime, or when the source of light which the shade normally covers is not used. This is done by using opaque materials for the figures, but giving these figures attractive surface designs, the entire color scheme being determined by considerations of taste. Attractive effects may also be produced by using inner and outer coverings of different colors so that the color effect produced by transmitted light is a blend of the two colors, while the chief color seen when the shade is viewed by reflected light is that of the outer covering.

For the other materials that go to make up the design, grasses and weeds and very small flowers of blossoms, particularly those of weeds, are very largely used, these plant materials being dried and sometimes pressed before being assembled in the design. I have found that by using these materials far more graceful and natural designs or scenes can be arranged and more attractive effects produced than by the use of artificially made materials.

Fig. 2 illustrates a different form of shade manufactured on a rectangular wire frame having rounded corners but made by the same method as the shade shown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 2 the parts corresponding to those shown in Fig. 1 are designated by the same numerals as those used in the latter figure except that these numerals are primed. In both Figs. 1 and 2 the outer covering is partially cut away and turned back. In Fig. 2 also the figure 5,.which forms a part of the design, is represented as hearing a colored surface design which is intended to give the article a more attractive appearance when viewed solely by reflected light, as above described, while also producing an attractive silhouette effect when seen by transmitted light.

It is obvious that the arrangement of figures, grasses and other elements of the design may take an infinitive variety of forms and it will be evident that the present invention is not limited to any speclfic design but rather is directed to the general features of construction by which the att active effects above described are produced.

What is claimed as new is:

An ornamental shade for a source of light comprising an open frame, a plurality, of sheets of translucent fabric stretched on said frameand secured thereto, one of said sheets of translucent material being colored, an attractive scene formed between said sheets by providing ornamental figures of opaque material and dried grasses and parts of plants so arranged between said sheets as to simulate trees and shrubbery and cooperating with said figures to form said scene and whereby the elements of said scene will appear in silhouette when viewed by the shaded light, and binding material covering the points at which said fabric sheets are secured to said frame.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ELSIE ST. C. BLIS.. 

